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Gallows Thief
Written by Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by James Frain
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Rider Sandman, having fought Napoleon in the French wars, expected to lead the life of an English country gentleman, but now, two years after Waterloo, his family is impoverished, his name is disgraced and he has been forced to relinquish the woman he loves from her obligation to marry him. Desperate to earn money he accepts the job of being the government's Investigator; an official who discovers whether petitions for mercy sent by condemned criminals should be granted. His first case concerns a portrait painter who is due to hang for murder in a week's time and the government makes it clear that they want the verdict confirmed.
But Rider Sandman, whose qualifications for the post are nonexistent, discovers that the painter is almost certainly innocent and, as he peels back the layers of a corrupt penal system, he finds himself pitted against some of the wealthiest and most ruthless men in Regency England who want to keep the truth hidden.
Book Actions
Start ListeningBook Information
Gallows Thief
Written by Bernard Cornwell
Narrated by James Frain
Description
Rider Sandman, having fought Napoleon in the French wars, expected to lead the life of an English country gentleman, but now, two years after Waterloo, his family is impoverished, his name is disgraced and he has been forced to relinquish the woman he loves from her obligation to marry him. Desperate to earn money he accepts the job of being the government's Investigator; an official who discovers whether petitions for mercy sent by condemned criminals should be granted. His first case concerns a portrait painter who is due to hang for murder in a week's time and the government makes it clear that they want the verdict confirmed.
But Rider Sandman, whose qualifications for the post are nonexistent, discovers that the painter is almost certainly innocent and, as he peels back the layers of a corrupt penal system, he finds himself pitted against some of the wealthiest and most ruthless men in Regency England who want to keep the truth hidden.
About the author
Reviews
Rider Sandman is a hero of Waterloo, a cricket champion and former army Captain who sold his commission to pay off his father's gambling debts. In the bargain he has lost his fiancee because he is no longer good enough for her family. He is hired to investigate whether a man sentenced to hang is actually guilty of the murder of a Countess. Gallows Thief is not so gritty as the Sharpe series, except for descriptions of the executions and prison system in Britain. It will likely have broader appeal as it has enough romance to appeal to gentler readers. Unlike Sharpe, Sandman is an educated man and a gentleman despite his diminished circumstances. Parts do become tedious and repetitious as Sandman keeps running into the same obstacles which take a while to get resolved. All in all a worthwhile adventure, which has the potential to become a series.
Rating: 4Not one of his better books - Predictable ending
Rating: 3Well written adventure from the author of the Sharpe novels. I have a huge weakness for down-at-the-heels gentlemen, especially when they are too smart for their own good.
Rating: 3This is likely my favorite book that I've read by Bernard Cornwell.
Although he always writes well-researched historical novels, many of
them are just a little bit too masculine and military-focused for my
taste. With this historical mystery set in 19th century London, he
achieves a more balanced milieu.
Rider Sandman returns to London a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo
expecting the respect given a military hero. However, he finds that in
his absence, his father gambled the family fortune away, and then
committed suicide, leaving him penniless and with an indelible stain
upon his reputation. To make things worse, his mother and sister
expect him to keep them in their accustomed idle and luxurious
lifestyle - they can't even imagine the shame of becoming working
women.
On top of all this, Sandman's planned wedding seems to definitely be off.
Sandman's only source of income is now to play cricket matches -
something he's luckily good at. But is certainly not enough money to
sustain him, and so when Lord Sidmouth recommends him for a job, he's
quick to take it. It seems an easy commission - a portrait painter is
accused of raping and murdering a wealthy lady as she sat for her
portrait. It's sure that he's guilty, but an investigation needs to be
done - purely as a formality - before the man can be hanged.
Unfortunately, when Rider embarks upon his investigation, he quickly
becomes certain that the portrait painter is innocent. For one thing,
he's gay, so it seems very unlikely he would have murdered a woman in
a crime of passion, as it is being alleged. For another thing, the
maid who would have been able to confirm the painter's alibi has
mysteriously disappeared.
Against Lord Sidmouth's wishes, the upright and honest Sandman
involves himself in a race against time to discover the truth before
the young painter is hanged...
Lots of dramatic tension and unexpected plot twists keep the book
exciting, as Cornwell takes the reader on a tour of the gritty,
realistic underside of London's criminal justice system.
Rating: 4Although he always writes well-researched historical novels, many of
them are just a little bit too masculine and military-focused for my
taste. With this historical mystery set in 19th century London, he
achieves a more balanced milieu.
Rider Sandman returns to London a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo
expecting the respect given a military hero. However, he finds that in
his absence, his father gambled the family fortune away, and then
committed suicide, leaving him penniless and with an indelible stain
upon his reputation. To make things worse, his mother and sister
expect him to keep them in their accustomed idle and luxurious
lifestyle - they can't even imagine the shame of becoming working
women.
On top of all this, Sandman's planned wedding seems to definitely be off.
Sandman's only source of income is now to play cricket matches -
something he's luckily good at. But is certainly not enough money to
sustain him, and so when Lord Sidmouth recommends him for a job, he's
quick to take it. It seems an easy commission - a portrait painter is
accused of raping and murdering a wealthy lady as she sat for her
portrait. It's sure that he's guilty, but an investigation needs to be
done - purely as a formality - before the man can be hanged.
Unfortunately, when Rider embarks upon his investigation, he quickly
becomes certain that the portrait painter is innocent. For one thing,
he's gay, so it seems very unlikely he would have murdered a woman in
a crime of passion, as it is being alleged. For another thing, the
maid who would have been able to confirm the painter's alibi has
mysteriously disappeared.
Against Lord Sidmouth's wishes, the upright and honest Sandman
involves himself in a race against time to discover the truth before
the young painter is hanged...
Lots of dramatic tension and unexpected plot twists keep the book
exciting, as Cornwell takes the reader on a tour of the gritty,
realistic underside of London's criminal justice system.
This is a stand-alone novel with a theme of capital punishment in the year 1817. Captain Rider Sandman investigates the case of a man incarcerated in Newgate prison who is subject to hang in the near future. As he proceeds with his investigations,Sandman becomes convinced that the man is innocent and another person is the true killer. Can he obtain the evidence to save the prisoner in time ?. A complete departure for Bernard Cornwell in that there are no battles in sight,and indeed very little fighting. However there is certainly the usual high level of excitement here as usual in Cornwell's books.
Rating: 5Solid historical fiction. Interesting time period. Little too much defining of London period slang terms within the text. Well plotted with a very likeable protagonist and sturdy supporting characters.
Rating: 4Only average compared to the Sharpe series. Wish I could do a 2 1/2 star rating in that it was ok, but really not up to standard.
Rating: 3A solid historical thriller/mystery/etc from the Sharpe series author.
Rating: 3As a writer, Bernard Cornwell can be slotted into the same category as writers like Stephen King and John Grisham. He knows his genre and cranks out novel in that genre at an extraordinary speed. None of his books are particularly fantastic, my memories of them generally fade within a couple of weeks of reading them, yet they are good for entertainment value and keep my attention.
Bernard Cornwell’s genre of choice is historical fiction. Most of his books take place during England’s history (though there are some exceptions) and I appreciate that even though the books are essentially fluffy reads, they do seem to be fairly historically accurate. The Gallow’s Thief follows Rider Sandman, a former army captain who has been disgraced by his father’s suicide. Desperate for work, he takes a job as special investigator for Charles Corday, an artist and convicted murderer. As one would expect in this kind of book, Corday is obviously not guilty, and Captain Sandman has to work for his money in order to find the real killer.
The book follows most of the conventions of both mystery novels and historical fiction novels, complete with carriage chases, gun fights, breaking and entering, and even the occasional cricket match (okay, that’s a little different). It’s not great literature, but it’s entertaining. I bought it for 4,000/= in Tanzania (that’s about 2 dollars), and I don’t feel like I wasted my money.
Rating: 3Bernard Cornwell’s genre of choice is historical fiction. Most of his books take place during England’s history (though there are some exceptions) and I appreciate that even though the books are essentially fluffy reads, they do seem to be fairly historically accurate. The Gallow’s Thief follows Rider Sandman, a former army captain who has been disgraced by his father’s suicide. Desperate for work, he takes a job as special investigator for Charles Corday, an artist and convicted murderer. As one would expect in this kind of book, Corday is obviously not guilty, and Captain Sandman has to work for his money in order to find the real killer.
The book follows most of the conventions of both mystery novels and historical fiction novels, complete with carriage chases, gun fights, breaking and entering, and even the occasional cricket match (okay, that’s a little different). It’s not great literature, but it’s entertaining. I bought it for 4,000/= in Tanzania (that’s about 2 dollars), and I don’t feel like I wasted my money.
Somewhat out of Cornwell's usual style, this doesn't contain a single battle - but it does contain a military man or two. Set some time in the late 1810s, after the battle of Waterloo, Captain Ryder Sandman is trying to earn sufficient money to keep his mother and sister after his father shot himself after being found a swindler and forger. He's left the army and is living in a cheep tavern in London. He finds himself offered wages as a temporary employee of the government in order to investigate if a murderer did, in fact, commit the crime and should hang. this isn't due to any qualm of conscience on the part of the Home secretary, more that the Queen has been persuaded to add her name to a petition, so the Home Secretary has to be seen to do something...
Ryder (who is, incidentally a very attractive character) goes to see the accused and starts to investigate, assisted by a local tavern wench, a Sergeant and a member of the aristocracy. He gets into a fair number of difficult positions in the week he has to find the truth, some of them physically dangerous. The tale ends as if there was to be a sequel, but I'm not aware of one.
Rating: 4Ryder (who is, incidentally a very attractive character) goes to see the accused and starts to investigate, assisted by a local tavern wench, a Sergeant and a member of the aristocracy. He gets into a fair number of difficult positions in the week he has to find the truth, some of them physically dangerous. The tale ends as if there was to be a sequel, but I'm not aware of one.
Near do man gets job to find out if man is guilty or not of murder, first crown detictive you mite say.
Rating: 4Think Prattchet's Sam Vimes mixed with Cornwall's Richard Sharpe and you've got Rider Sandman. Gallow's Thief has all of the colour and depth that is found in Cornwall's novels. You'll get a great education in "flash"!
Rating: 4A roaring concoction of Regency England, mixing murder mystery with cricket in long coats and high stocks. Cornwell captures the seaminess of London at this time without losing the excitement of the social melange.
Rating: 5I really enjoyed the 'Gallows Thief', although it was similar in style to the Paul Doherty series I read which is also a medieval 'whodunnit'. There were laugh out loud moments within the dialogue, and I would have liked to see the quizzing glass owned by one of the characters.The race against the clock at the end of the book had me on the edge of my seat (or mattress, as I was reading this in bed), however it was dragged out and slightly annoying given that the ending was a foregone conclusion for the reader with their wits about them.I found the details about the Newgate prison to be completely fascinating and were based on facts and research carried out by the author. Terrific read!
Rating: 3This was ok, I'd probably buy it, not quite as gripping to me as his military stuff.
Rating: 3I tried, I really did try. A good friend recommended this book too me and let me borrow his copy. I immediately sat down and devoured the first chapter which was incredible. Moving past that initial setup, it came to a screeching halt for me. It's the not the typical kind of book I read anyway and this just moved way to slow for me. If you like this genre, then this may be a great book. My friend reads a lot of these type of books and he loved it. Just not for me.
Rating: 2Captain Rider Sandman is down on his luck. His father, Ludovic Sandman, after swindling a number of people of large amounts of money and losing all his own fortune, had committed suicide leaving his family with a disgraced name and no money. This catastrophe caused Rider to sell his army commission to provide a modest home for his mother and sister, and forced his beloved fiancee Eleanor to break off their engagement at the insistance of her mother. His two consolations are cricket, from which he derived a small income, and his clubfooted friend, the Rev. Lord Alexander Pleydell. Things were about to change.Cornwell has deftly woven a delightful who-done-it set mostly in London two years after Waterloo. This is by far the most lighthearted Cornwell novel I have come across, but it still offers a rich plot, strong characterizations, suspense, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end. I loved it!
Rating: 5Cornwell creates another Sharpe-like protagonist in post-Napoleanic London. Sandman investigates the innocence of a man condemned to hang at Newgate in a world that does not care much for justice. Cornwell's portrayal of a London hungry for death, and the flaws in the justice system, illuminate a time when the death penalty was commonplace and questions its place in our own time.
Rating: 4A great one shot from Cornwell. I have truly become enamored with this man’s work and find even this stand alone a great read. Although not packed with wall-to-wall battle scenes like his other novels, Cornwell manages to capture the malaise and drama of the era.
Rating: 4A decent tale, but had flaws. The central crime made no sense since the perpetrator was so wealthy and had covered up enough of it that it was unbelievable that he wouldn't take a final and permanent step to silence the last witness. And the ending seemed very cliched and as if it were being written for a 1940s serial and not a modern novel.
Rating: 3more juvenile than his other novels; holds your interest but
Rating: 2